Engine starter



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W. J. SPIRO ENGINE STARTER Filed Jan. 2. 1923 Eatented July 8, 1924..

WALTER J. SPIRO, OF WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK.

ENGINE STARTER.

Application filed January 2. 1923. `Serial No. 610,217.

T all ely/omet may concern."

ABe it known that l. iWALTER J. Erme, citizen of the United States, residing at White Plains, in the county ofl/Vestchester and State of New York., `have invented certain new and useful improvements in En gine Starters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an engine starter and particularly to a construction in which a gaseous charge is injected into a firing chamber under pressure.

The invention has for an' object to provide a novel and improved construction wherein the fluid pressure charging means controls devices for opening and closing an intake valve and for igniting the charge afterthe closing of such valve.

A further object of the invention is toprovide a novel structure of valve opening and closing means controlled by the position of the valve actuating cams to select an intake valve for acylinder in position for firing.

Another object of the invention is to present an improved construction and arrangement by which the valve actuating means controls proper circuits for cutting-out members of the normal ignition system and independently igniting the charge after the closing of the intake valve to effect an ini tial impulse in the engine, and subsequently restoring such cut-out members.

Other and further objects'and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by the appended claims.

AIn the drawing Figure 1 is a diagram, with parts in seo tion, showing the general arrangement of the mechanism;

Figure 2 is a detail plan of the cam shaft and valve lifters; Y

Figure 3 is a detail section of a non-operated valve;

Figure 4 is asimilar view of a valve afterv release; and

Figure 5 is a detail plan of the Contact carrier. y

Like `numerals refer to like parts in the several figures of the drawing.V

Onefform of apparatus for effecting the Objects of this invention is herein shownand described, and the numeral therein designates a pump cylinder or other device for effecting a fluid pressure of the gaseous fuelY in the intake manifold. This cylinder is provided with a piston 11 having an operating handle 12, while the opposite end of the cylinder communicates by a line pipe 13 with an air intake 14 of a carburetor 15 to which a gas line 16 extends. This carburetor communicates with the usual intake manifold 17 of an explosive gas engine 18 provided with the ordinary valve system. For the purposes of this invention only the intake valve 19 is shown and this controls the gas supply to the firing or combustion chamber 2 TheJ pipe line 13 is provided with a flap cr butterfly valve 21 having an operating arm 22 from which a cable 23 extends to a valve lever 24 pivoted to a fixed part of the pump casing. A pin or projection 25 from this lever normally rests upon the piston rod 26 and the lever is thus held in inclined position, as shown in Figure 1. The valve may be provided with an interposed spring 27 which holds the lever under tension and the flap valve closed. When the piston reaches the innermostpoint of of its stroke the pin of the lever idrops into a recess 28 in the piston rod thus releasing the tension upon the cable and permitting the Hap valve to open for the ordinary air intake. The tension upon the cable holds this valve closed during the charging action so that a rich mixture is fed for the starting effort. The recess 28 is formed with an inclined inner wall 29 upon which the pin of the lever rides to place thev same in tensioning position during the outward stroke of the piston. For the purpose of selecting the intake valve of a cylinder whose piston is in position for ignition5 a rock shaft. 30 is pivotally mounted upon any suitable fixed part and provided with a lever arm 31 Vconnected by a cable 32 with the valve lever 24 which retains the arm against the tension of the restoring spring 33 until the pin of the lever reaches the recess in the piston rod. This rock shaft carries a series of pivot lugs 34 for the valve lifters 35 which are pivoted thereon at 3G and normally drawn away from the valve stem 37 by a spring 38 extending therefrom to a post 39 on the rock shaft. A stop 40 maybe provided to limit y position,.`and one of the lifters is provided foreach of the intake valves.

` When vthe bearing at the lower end of the lifter engages an exhaust valve cam controlling a .cylinderwith pistonin position for ignition` the upperend of the lifter is forced beneathl the pin upon the valve stem, and

the upward swinging movement of the rock shaft raises the intake valve to the open position shown in Figure l. The release of the .valve lever in the pump action causes the rockfshaft to be restored by its spring and the lifter 'lowered so that the valve is lfreeto close under its ordinary spring tension, thus leaving` the parts in the position shown in Figure 4. Those of the lifters which do not engage a valve cam in their travel are not shifted into engagement with the intake valve stem-and remain in the position shown in Figure 3.

- The 1ignition system may be of any desired character and is herein shown as comprising substantially a primary circuit from the loattery 50 through a primary coil 51 and circuit breaker' 52, which energizes the coil53 of the secondary high tension circuit connected at one side to the ground line 54 and at the opposite side 'by line 55 carrying a cut-out switch l56"which is in circuit by linc 57 with the usual distributer 58 having separate lines 59 to the 'spark plugs 60 which form the oppositeground for the secondary coil circuit. This cut-out switch is normally closed by thetension of the rock shaft arm 3l, 'as in Figure V4, so that the ignition circuit operates in the usual manner. Vhen the lifter is actuated, as in Figure l, the switch 56 is opened breaking the ignition circuit to prevent firing while charging, particularly if one of the distributer contacts shouldbe in position for that purpose.

From the secondary line. 55, a lin-e 61 ew:- tends to a starting switch of any preferred character, one form being a spring arm G2 for each lifter, mounted upon an insulating block 63 and carrying a cam face 64 andalso va contact 65 adapted to engage an opposite contact 66 which is in circuit, by line 67, ywith one of the lines 5S) to the spark spark plugs 60. A series of lines 67 extend between the lifters and spark plugs providing independenty circuit control for each lifter for firing its coacting cylinder. This` arrangement cuts out the distributer and downward travel of the lifter this pawl engages the Vupper stop Vand also the cam face -is here shown for that purpose; In the 1 upon the spring arm which effects the closi ing of the circuit cont-act, while in the upward movement, of the lifter the pawlswings away from the cam.

To complete the firing actionit is'necesf1'- sary to cut-out. temporarily the circult breaker 52, and this 'is effected byline 7 O kin circuit with one side of thebattery and connected to a pivoted plate 71 which carries the insulating` block'V 63.V `This plate engages an opposite contact`72 from which aline 73 extends to the primary coil 51. The action of this starting switch is momentary during the passage of the lifter pawl over the cam,'and the cut-out circuits are at once broken so that the normal ignition system' with its breaker and distributerare in positionfor use.

In the operation of the invention the primary outward movement of the piston withdraws air and gases from the intake manifold through tht-:carburetor thus charging the pump with fresh fuel. The rock shaft at this time has Vmoved the valve lifters toward the exhaust valve cams, and the'cam controlling the ignition chamber of a cylinder in position for firing forces the upper end of the lifter inward beneath Vthe pin upon the valve stem to -lift the intake Vvalve i ting theV valveto close andestablishes an independent ignition circuit through the starter switch for tiring the charge just compressed. This momentary st-arter switch action successively cuts-out the distributer and lltl circuit breaker and finally restores these members while the rock shaft arm closes the cut-out switch to restore the normal ignition system for operation. The operation just described may be repeated as often as necessary and the position of thevalve cams will positively select the proper ignition chamber to be charged relatively to the position of the engine'pistons.' y

The construction disclosed provides means A.lo

for automatically timing the charging, valve opening and closing, and ignition operations, While the selection of the cylinder to be fired is definitely determined by the position of the engine pistons. While the details of construction have shown and described, changes and altera-tions may be made therein, as the invention is not confined thereto as recited in the following claims.

1. In an engine starter, means for charging an 4ignition chamber With a gaseous fluid under pressure, intake and exhaust valves for said chamber, ignition means therefor, controlling cams of said valves, andra lifter member controlled by one of said cams and the charging means for successively engaging a portion of one of said valves, lifting the same, releasing the valve, and controlling the ignition means.

2. In an engine starter, means for charging an ignition chamber With a gaseous fluid under pressure, means controlled by `the charging means for actuating an intake valve to said chamber, and ignition means controlled by the charging means subsequent to the valve action.

3. In an engine starter, means for charging an ignition chamber With a gaseous fluid under pressure, intake and exhaust valves for said chamber, ignition means therefor, controlling cams for said valves, and a lifting member controlled by the charging means to directly engage one of said cams and a portion of one of said valves to lift and release the same during the charging action.

4. In an engine starter, means for charging an ignition chamber with a gaseous fluid under pressure, intake and exhaust valves for said chamber, controlling cams for said valves, and valve opening means controlled by said charging means and selectively actuated by the position of one of said cams to directly engage a portion of one of said valves and lift the same.

5. In an engine starter, means for charging an ignition chamber with fluid fuel under pressure, intake and exhaust valves for said chamber, controlling cams for said valves, and avalve lifter actuated in the movement of the charging means and having one end shifted into the path of retaining means upon a valve stem by contact of the opposite end With one of said cams.

6. In an engine starter, means for compressing a charge in an ignition chamber, intake and exhaust valves for said chamber, controlling cams for said valves, a rock shaft carrying valve lifters for the intake valves pivoted upon lever arms therefrom to directly engage a portion of said valves, connections for actuating said rock shaft in the movement of said compressing means,

and means upon said lifters to selectively7 engage one of said cams to-rock the opposite end of the lifter toward a valve stem.

7. In an engine starter, means for compressing a charge in an ignition chamber, intake and exhaust valves for said chamber, controlling cams for said valves, a rock shaft carrying valve lifters for the intake valves, connections for actuating said rock shaft in the movement of said compressing means, means upon said lifters to selectively engage one of said cams to shift the lifter into engagement with a part upon a valve stem, and an ignition circuit adapted to be closed by a member upon the rock shaft after the closing movement of an intake valve. y

`8. In an engine starter, means for compressing a charge in an ignition chamber, intake and exhaust valves for said chamber, controlling cams for said valves, a pivoted member provided with lever arms, lifters for the intake valves pivoted upon said arms to engage a portion of a valve stem, connections between. said member and the charging means for retaining a valve in open position during the charging action, means upon the lifters selectively-engaged by one of said cams for directly engaging one lifter with an intake valve stem, and mea-ns connected to said member for Withdravving said lifter to permit the closing of the selected valve at the termination of the charging action.

9. In an engine starter, means for compressing a charge in an ignition chamber, intake and exhaust valves for said chamber, controlling cams for said valves, a pivoted member carrying lifters for the intake valves, connections between said member and the charging means for opening an intake valve during the charging action, means upon said lifters to selectively engage Vone of said cams, means connected to said member for closing the selected valve, and means carried by said member for establishing an ignition circuit after the closing action.

l0. In an engine starter, pressure means' for `charging an ignition chamber, means controlled by the charging means to open and close an intake valve, and means controlled by the valve actuating means for igniting the charge Within said chamber.

ll. In an engine starter, pressure means for charging an ignition chamber, a normal ignition system including a circuit breaker and distributer, means for actuating an intake valve during a charging action, and means controlled by the valve actuating means for cutting-out said ignition system. l2. In an engine starter, pressure means for charging an ignition chamber, a normal ignition system including a circuit breaker and distributer, a series of devices for incharging, and means upon said devices disos'ed to enO'aO'e an exhaust valve cam or v b C positioning one device in operative relation to an intake valve.

13. In an engine starter, pressure means for charging an ignition chamber, a normal ignition system including a circuit breaker and distributer, a valve actuating devicefor an intake valve, means carried by said device for opening the ignition circuit, and meansupon said device for momentarily establishing an independent ignition circuit.

14. In an engine starter, pressure means for charging an ignition chamber, a normal ignition system including a circuit breaker and distributer, an intake valve actuating device, means carried by said device for opening the ignition circuit `during charg-` ing, and means upon saida-device for successively 4shunting the distributer and circuit breakerja'fter the closing of the intake valve. Y

l5. In an engine starterl means for charging an ignition (chamber, a'rocking member provided with actuating 'means, an intake valve lifter pivotedupon said member and having a valve stem engaging farm at its upper end, a contact-,face at its lovverend disposed to lengage an actuating cam, a trip device upon said :lifter:Q andan ignition system having a starter switch located-in thepatlrofsaid trip device.

Inv testimony whereof IV my signature'.

WALTER J. errno. c' 

